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Schneider leads USA U16 team to gold medal

Former Phillips Lady Blackhawk and Borger Lady Bulldogs Head Basketball coach Jill Schneider guided the USA U16 girls to the championship of the 2011 FIBA Americas Tournament in Mexico on Saturday by defeating Brazil, 73-40.For Schneider, it’s her fifth gold medal, as she won four as a player, but lost out on earning one in the 1980 Olympics when the USA boycotted those games. This is her first gold medal as a coach.The USA U16 team set records in the tournament for the most rebounds (322), rebounds per game (64.4), blocks per game (9.6) and steals per game (17.4) during their 5-0 run to the title.In a interview with Lubbock television station KCBD NewsChannel 11, Schneider said, “What an honor to represent your country. We talk a lot of times here at Monterey, representing our high school, being ambassadors for our high school. Once in a while, you get to represent your state in a State All-Star game, something along those lines. But to represent your country, it is far and away the greatest honor.”Schneider currently is the Head Girls Basketball Coach at Lubbock Monterey High School. By winning the title, the US earned a berth into the 2012 FIBA U17 World Championship in the Netherlands. Brazil and Canada will also represent the Americas next year.